How Supplyframe DesignLab leverages NX X cloud licensing for designing electronics

What is Supplyframe DesignLab?

Supplyframe is the leading Design-to-Source platform for the global electronics value chain that offers solutions that interpret billions of intent, demand, supply and risk signals to deliver insights through the design-to-market product lifecycle. They were acquired by Siemens AG in 2021. DesignLab at Supplyframe is a physical research and development studio located in Pasadena, California focusing on transforming the electronics industry through collaborating with other organizations, such as universities, to develop open-source hardware projects and products with a social impact. DesignLab also hosts events such as technical workshops, university workshops and more.

Design workflows at Supplyframe DesignLab

DesignLab utilizes NX CAD as well as other software from the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio throughout their design process. NX CAD includes tools for multidisciplinary, collaborative design across MCAD and ECAD— which is important for DesignLab’s design of products with electronic components.

The design process for projects at DesignLab begins with gathering all relevant data that will inform decisions, given that many of their projects are based on existing research. This may look like taking into account what kind of sensors will need to be or already being used, power management, user experience, etc. From there, they start to model and iterate on the design in NX CAD. Once they have a design ready, they move on to prototyping.

With NX as a comprehensive CAD/CAM/CAE tool, DesignLab also leverages NX CAM for prototyping and manufacturing. Within their 4,900 square foot studio, they have equipment such as a high-volume Pick and Place machine, a CNC mill, 3D printers and more which allow them to rapidly develop prototypes throughout the design/iteration process.

NX X: Easy cloud-based licensing for NX CAD

In June 2024, DesignLab decided to deploy NX X, a cloud Software as a Service (SaaS) deployment of NX CAD software for product engineering. NX X includes all the same multidisciplinary design tools as traditional on-premises NX CAD, plus the associated benefits of a SaaS solution such as flexibility, security and scalability. It also includes built-in data management and integration with Teamcenter PLM software, which DesignLab also leverages for collaboration and data sharing.

We spoke to Giovanni Salinas, Senior Product Development Engineer at DesignLab about their their choice to transition to SaaS with NX X. When asked what drew DesignLab to wanting to deploy NX X, Giovanni stated,

The licensing system, easy! You practically have no license management to worry about. You just install NX X and get to work.

Giovanni Salinas, Senior Product Development Engineer, Supplyframe DesignLab

The installation process of NX X at the DesignLab

Giovanni noted that the installation process of NX X was “frustration-free” and the “easiest installation of an application by far,” taking no more than 25 to 30 minutes, most of which was spent downloading the installation package itself. While a typical software installation requires help and going back and forth with an IT team, Giovanni said that all he needed to do was make sure he had an internet connection. He got an email to download Siemens Software Center, followed instructions, and from there it was quick, simple and online.

It was truly smooth. I’m seriously looking forward to more Siemens applications with the additional ‘X’ in their name.

Giovanni Salinas, Senior Product Development Engineer, Supplyframe DesignLab

NX X offers flexibility with desktop and browser-based CAD

NX X offers “the best of both worlds,” as Giovanni puts it, with the licensing being online managed by Siemens but the software application itself still being desktop-based, allowing you to still leverage the processing power from your computer.

Other [cloud-based CAD] applications are fully online which may make the installation a breeze, but they come with their own set of challenges.

Giovanni Salinas, Senior Product Engineer, Supplyframe DesignLab

Other online-only applications are typically stripped down versions of the original desktop software with limited functionality and fewer capabilities. With NX X, you get the same NX CAD features and functionalities but with the benefits of cloud licensing. Additionally, we offer the option to seamlessly stream NX X online in any browser-enabled device with the NX X Remote Extension.

The future of product engineering

Using NX X enables engineers at DesignLab to focus on their designs and less on IT. They are also looking forward to the next generation of design from leveraging AI-enabled capabilities to immersive engineering— and they are keen to try out the Sony XR head-mounted display when it releases. If you are interested in purchasing NX X, find out which solution is right for you on our website, or try NX X free for 30 days.

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